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A teenage girl has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after two teachers and a pupil were stabbed at a school in West Wales.
Police confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that three people were injured at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman school and are being treated for stab wounds.
Their injuries are not life-threatening, police have said.
Dyfed-Powys Police say the incident happened at about 11.20am on Wednesday morning.
The force confirmed the school was put into lockdown “for the safety of all on the premises”.
Pupils were released from the school at around 3.20pm, with hundreds of parents gathered outside to collect them.
The teenage girl is currently in police custody and a knife has been recovered in evidence, police said in an update at the scene.
The comprehensive school in the town of Ammanford in Carmarthenshire has over 2,000 pupils between the ages of 11 and 18.
Ammanford in Carmarthenshire
The school had been in lockdown since about 11am, with pupils told to stay in their classrooms.
Hundreds of parents were assembled outside the school by 3pm, waiting to collect their children from the school.
Rachel Young, a parent at the school, told Sky News her daughter and other pupils had been “locked” in the classroom.
“She’s scared obviously. She says she’s fine, but they all say ‘I’m fine’ but they’re obviously not going to be and what’s going to happen from now on, I don’t know. We don’t even know if the school’s going to be open,” she said.
“I wanted to get here. I rang the school and they said they’re not allowing anyone in or anyone out, but they couldn’t really comment any further than that.”
A spokesperson for Ysgol Dyffryn Aman said the family members of the injured have been informed.
“We would like to reassure parents and the public that the incident has been contained,” they added.
Dyfed-Powys Police said it was aware that footage of the incident was “circulating on social media”.
“We would ask that this is removed to avoid contempt of court and distress to those affected,” a spokesperson said.
Police have also asked people not to speculate as the investigation is ongoing.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his “shock” at the news.
‘Close and welcoming community’
In the Senedd, Lee Waters, a former pupil of the school who represents Llanelli, asked an emergency question on the incident.
“Ammanford is a close and welcoming community,” he said.
“I think the fact now that this is happening in the social media age adds further distress to it.”
Lynne Neagle, Wales’s education secretary told Senedd members it was “very important” to let the police undertake their investigation.
“They were very clear with myself and the First Minister earlier that lots of speculation is not helpful,” she said.
“We need to let them do their job at the same time as making sure that we support the school and the community through this very difficult period.”
Police and fore nsic investigators at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman. Pic: PA
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Superintendent Ross Evans, Carmarthenshire Commander, said police were working with the school and other agencies to ensure “appropriate support is available to all involved”.
“This was a very distressing incident and our thoughts are with the victims, their families and everyone impacted by what has happened,” he added.
“Local people will see more police in the area over the coming days as the investigation continues.”
‘Shocking incident’
Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, Darren Price, praised the teachers, staff and pupils of Ysgol Dyffryn Aman “for the way they’ve responded to this shocking incident”.
“As a council, our priority now is to do all that we can over the coming days and weeks to support the pupils and staff in the aftermath,” he said.
“Today’s events have come as a grave shock to the school community, to Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, and further afield.
“To support Dyfed-Powys Police, Ysgol Dyffryn Amann will be closed tomorrow (Thursday) to all pupils and staff in order for officers to further carry out their investigations.
“Although the school will be closed, I want to reassure pupils, parents and staff that well-being support is available to anyone who has been affected. The school will continue its lessons online.”
Anyone with information that could help officers with their investigation is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police.
Three people have been injured in a “major incident” at a school in West Wales.
Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Carmarthenshire has been closed as investigations continue into a reported stabbing on Wednesday, Dyfed-Powys Police said.
A local councillor who serves on the school’s governing body said she had been told the incident involved a stabbing.
Those injured were said to be receiving treatment.
One person has been arrested and police say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
Emergency services remain at the scene and the force said it is working closely with the school and Carmarthenshire County Council.
Pupils were released from the school at about 3.20pm, after it had been in lockdown since about 11am.
A spokesperson said: “We are aware that there is footage of the incident currently circulating on social media.
“We would ask that this is removed to avoid contempt of court and distress to those affected.”
Police have asked people not to speculate as the investigation is ongoing.
A spokesperson for Ysgol Dyffryn Aman said the family members of the injured have been informed.
“We would like to reassure parents and the public that the incident has been contained,” they added.
The comprehensive school in the town of Ammanford has about 2,000 pupils.
Police did not give the ages of those hurt or of the person who has been detained.
Parents wait at the gates of Amman Valley school. Pic: PA
Emergency services at the scene
‘Deeply worrying’
Hundreds of parents were assembled outside the school by 3pm, waiting to collect their children from the school.
Rachel Young, a parent at the school, told Sky News her daughter and other pupils had been “locked” in the classroom.
“She’s fine but they’ve locked them in the classroom” she said.
“She’s scared obviously. She says she’s fine, but they all say ‘I’m fine’ but they’re obviously not going to be and what’s going to happen from now on, I don’t know. We don’t even know if the school’s going to be open.
“I wanted to get here. I rang the school and they said they’re not allowing anyone in or anyone out, but they couldn’t really comment any further than that.”
Pic PA
Emergency services at the scene
Councillor Rob James, who represents Lliedi ward, said: “My thoughts are with the headteacher, teaching staff, parents and pupils of Ysgol Dyffryn Aman after today’s major incident.
“I have been in contact with Carmarthenshire Council and will provide any support I can to the school during this difficult time.”
First Minister Vaughan Gething said he was “shocked to hear” about the incident, adding it was “a deeply worrying time for the school, families and community”.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his “shock” at the news.
“I want to thank the police and emergency services for their ongoing response and my thoughts are with all those affected,” he said.
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In an interview with WalesOnline, Councillor Karen Davies – a LEA governor at the school – said she had been told there was a stabbing.
“I have been told someone has been arrested and that two members of staff have been stabbed, but have no confirmation on how serious the injuries are,” she told the news website.
“I send my thoughts to those injured and all the people there. I know how well the school rehearsed lockdown and I am sure everything is under control.”
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, described the incident as “violent” and said it was “deeply sad and distressing”.
Adam Price, Senedd member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, said: “As we wait for more information to be released, my thoughts, like the rest of us, are with the school’s community.”
Emergency response
A spokesperson for the Welsh Ambulance Service said the service was called shortly after 11.15am to an incident on Margaret Street.
“We sent four emergency ambulances and the hazardous area response team to the scene, where crews were supported by two Cymru high acuity response unit paramedics and an operational manager,” the spokesperson added.
“Advanced critical care support was delivered by the emergency medical Retrieval and Transfer Service in two Wales Air Ambulance charity helicopters.”
The Wales Air Ambulance confirmed it was in attendance at an incident in the region.
“We mobilised three critical care teams at 11.30am. Our Dafen and Welshpool based crew were mobilised by air and our Cardiff based crew was mobilised by road,” they said.
“Unfortunately, we cannot comment any further.”
UK
Three men arrested after deaths of five people, including a child, who attempted to cross Channel
Three men have been arrested after the deaths of five people – including a seven-year-old girl – who were attempting to cross the English Channel.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) has said it is supporting the French investigation into the deaths.
The men arrested were two Sudanese nationals aged 19 and 22 and one South Sudanese national aged 19, Craig Turner, the deputy director of the NCA, said.
The suspects have been accused of facilitating illegal immigration and entering the UK illegally.
It comes as a seven-year-old girl, a woman and three men died during the attempt to cross the English Channel on Tuesday.
Migrants arrive in Dover after being rescued
A further 55 people believed to have been on board the boat have also been identified and will continue to be questioned by police in the next few days.
“This tragic incident demonstrates the threat to life posed by these crossings and brings into focus why it is so important to target these criminal gangs involved in organising them,” Mr Turner said on Wednesday.
The incident on 23 April occurred in Wimereux, northern France
Sky News was told on Tuesday that about 50 people who had paid for a place on board the boat helped carry it down the beach in Wimereux, northern France, before getting to the waterfront.
It was at this point that another group of people emerged and pushed their way on to the boat, threatening those on board.
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It meant that a total of 112 people were on the boat that was only meant to safely accommodate 20 people.
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According to the latest data from the UK government, a total of 402 migrants were detected crossing the Channel in seven small boats on Tuesday alone – an average of 57 people per boat.
From 17-22 April there were no detected crossings.
The NCA announcement comes on the same day as the bodies of 19 people were recovered off the coast of Tunisia, near one of the primary points of departure for those seeking to traverse the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.
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In an attempt to deter migrants from crossing the Channel in small boats, the UK government passed the controversial Rwanda bill on Monday – which seeks to deport asylum seekers arriving in the UK via small boats to the African nation.
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